THE ROARING BLAZE 13!
the Neopolitan alliance, as well as with Sforza and Cesa-
rini, the Holiness of the Pope proceeded to the Regno for
the purpose of concerting a plan of campaign with King
Don Alonso II, whom He met at Vicovaro on the four-
teenth of July. There it was arranged that the King
should hold the Abruzzi provinces with part of the Nea-
politan army, while his son, Don Ferrandino de Aragona,
with another part should make a swift advance on Milan
by way of the Romagna, sending out flying columns to
sweep the country free from rebels; and, after expelling
the usurping Regent, Don Ludovico Maria Sforza-Vis-
conti, and restoring Duke Giangaleazzo to the throne of
Milan, he should force the French to engage in Lombardy.
Meanwhile, Don Virginio Orsini with the pontifical con-
dottieri was to protect the Papal States; and Don Federigo
de Aragona, brother to King Don Alonso II, was to take
the Neapolitan fleet, capture Genoa, and command the
northern coast.
No better plan could have been invented for a war of
the chess-game species: but in two places it was weak. It
would occupy too long in performance; for the French
army was on Milan's frontier which half the length of
Italy separated from Naples. It caused the defection of
some Sforza; it alienated the Supreme Pontiff from His
vicechancellor, His closest friend, for the Neapolitan
scheme involved the expulsion from Milan of the brother
of Cardinal Ascanio Maria Sforza-Visconti, who thereupon
became neutral, Sforza holding by Sforza.
Before the Regno was ready, the French fleet reached
Genoa, and the French army crossed the Alps to Milan.
Admiral Don Federigo de Aragona, finding Genoa in his
enemy's hand, led the Neapolitan galleys to Porto Venere
on the Gulf of Spezzia, only to sustain a repulse which
caused him to retire to Livorno to repair his fleet. Seeing
from which direction he might expect attack, the Christian
King garrisoned Genoa with Swiss mercenaries under